I am unsure if you know by now, but I plan to have Abigail at home. It was a choice made for a couple reasons.
- I’ve had a natural birth (no meds etc) with Noah and just about fully with Jeremiah as well (last few min spinal tap and forceps).
- It’s WAY cheaper! Noah cost us, out of pocket about 8k! Having a midwife has cost $2550 out of pocket.
There are so many plus’ to having a home birth in my opinion, just to name a few..
- The comfort of your own home.
- No need to pack a hospital bag
- No need to travel with your newborn for a few days/weeks
- Comfortable bed to sleep in right away
- No need to travel while in labor – The help comes to you
Of course these can also bring out some fears. We are programmed to rely on doctors/hospitals when it comes to birth, as if it’s not completely natural.
If you asked me to consider a home birth with my first born I would have been completely turned off. “NO WAY!” would be my answer. The fear of birth was overwhelming to me. The thought of doing it “on my own” (so I thought) in my home scared me to death!
With my second born, I considered home birth. But there were no options out there for me, so I just changed hospitals, as the first one was not the best experience. I was a little leery of home birth still, but a little more open to it, as I had experienced birth (a VERY hard labor) already, I felt more confident to do it again.
So here I am going forward with home birth. So far I’ve loved every minute of the process. It’s so much more natural! No poking or prodding. I feel as though I am visiting a friend when I visit with my midwife. I am looking forward to her help while having Abigail. As an added bonus, she is also a doula! I was thrilled to learn this. I’ve always been curious about one.
Have you considered having a home birth? Have you had one?
Would love to know your thoughts!
I cannot wait to let you all know how it goes. 
I think it all depends on the staff of the hospital or your midwife – if they are there for you, nice and kind even hospital birth can be “comfortable”…
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That’s true.
I have read that some midwifes can at times make the experience not that comfortable, even at home.
I will say that as far as the staff at my second birth, I was as comfortable as can be. Although, I would have preferred my home, my own bed. I never slept well in the hospital for either birth. The food was nice though.
The food was good?! Oh you lucky girl!
Yes, you are right, our own beds are always the best!
Alexandra recently posted..25 questions, 25 answers
I think home births are becoming more popular due to rising medical costs. It is crazy how much it costs to have a baby. Good luck mama, I can’t wait to read her birth story.
No kidding! The biggest reason for this home birth is the cost. Thank you!! I can’t wait to write about it!
I had a home birth (by choice) with all three of mine at home. For us – because our insurance is so great, the homebirth was actually the more expensive option. Especially with number 3 – because they were out of network.
However, the experience I had with all three, is worth 100X as much money. I never ever had any trama. All births were glorious. I got in bed and went to sleep with my baby. The connection was immediately established. I remember (in detail) each and every minute of all 3 births. I had wonderful pre-natal and post natal experiences. Nothing was pushed on me. My midwife understood and respected all of my wishes.
When I didn’t want Vitamin K – no problem. Everything was natural. When the kids woke up, the baby was here – no big deal.
I have never ever been in a hospital. There was no reason for it. I wasn’t sick – so why should I be there. For me, it’s the most natural and safe place to birth. I firmly believe 100% in homebirth.
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That is so neat to hear! AND doing it with your first, amazing!
I think my midwife will be wonderful as well. I’ve heard good things from her assisted births, and am excited for her to be there. I can’t wait to write down how it went. It’s so foreign to me, since I’ve only birthed at hospitals. But the last birth made me realize, I could just do this at home and be way more relaxed.
I like that the kids woke up and the baby was there. I’ve gone over in my head what to do with the boys, and I just don’t know. I have help all around me, but we will just have to see what happens. Will be a memorable experience none the less.
Nature sort of takes care of that part, Sarah, Put the kids to sleep and you will go into active labor. You will have the baby in arms before they wake up!
I had all three kids at home. At first the money prompted us towards it but the more we learned about homebirth we just knew it was the safest and best option for us. I hope you love it. I wrote labor tips that apply to home birth if you want to check them out, http://www.clumsycrafter.com/2010/09/labor-tips-for-labor-day/.
Great article, thank you!
I did laugh at pain part “all the women that have had natural births are laughing to themselves now” lol. No kidding! 
Since the births in the hospital were natural (except the first one, with the few min of the epi at the end), I sure have an idea of the pain. But before even giving birth to my first, I wanted to go natural. Read up on EVERYTHING I could. Made my husband watch birthing videos, and even watched them over and over with my mom who was with me as well. Putting it in my head that it’s NATURAL and the pain is natural, truly helped. 
Wow – keep us updated on this one. I will definitely go for a home birth if I ever have kids, it just seems much more tranquil to me and I think thats a great environment through which to bring kids into this world. You dont get much tranquility so definitely let them get off on the right foot!
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